Gears of War 2 received a shot in the arm last night with the surprise release …

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If Gears of War 2 reproduces the first game's success, we'll be playing it for a long time to come. Horde mode has been a surprising hit online, playing through the main campaign again in co-op keeps things fresh, and the myriad other online modes will make sure that we don't put the game down any time soon. Last night three more maps were released for the game, giving gamers a great excuse to play the game again.

Flood is a very tight map that's made extra snug when the
environmental hazard of Imulsion begins creeping up around the edges.
As the playing field closes in, the firefight will intensify as combat
is forced to the center of the map. Teams skilled at flanking their
opponents will have a powerful edge.

Gold Rush takes place in an old Imulsion
refinery that now serves as a hotly contested battleground. Players
must survive heavy crossfire as they infiltrate the factory and
navigate multiple tiers. Breakable glass allows for a clean shot at
those who make a dash for the Longshot rifle while bolder players make
their run for the heavy weapon. In the right hands, the Mortar can be
devastating on this map, so keep those smoke grenades armed as the
concussive effect comes in very handy.

Fuel Station is situated in a desolate area
marked by an abandoned fossil fuel station. The team that secures and
controls the station is likely to be the side that wins the match. An
especially strategic location on this map is the rooftop, as there are
only two points of entry–the main elevator and a staircase on the
back side of the building. Heavy weaponry is situated right in front,
which presents a high risk to reward ratio in this level. Lugging the
Mulcher around, deploying it and revving it up can keep an entire team
at bay, and unleashing hell from the rooftops is always an excellent
tactic.

You can play these maps in Horde Mode, and if you're a power player, you'll want to pick the pack up ASAP; there is nothing worse than being kicked out of a good game because you're missing some maps.

If you were watching the Spike TV Video Game Awards last night, you saw some footage of these maps presented by a swimsuit model.